Youth leaders dismantle prayer camp at Mni Owe Sni in Minneapolis

Youth leaders dismantled a Dakota prayer camp at the sacred site Mni Owe Sni in south Minneapolis on Saturday, according to MPR News. The camp, which had stood for more than a month, was taken down after several days of interrupted prayer. Two remaining white canvas tipis were removed by youth leaders Joe Crow Shoe, Allen Michael Owen and Nina Bergland, with support from volunteers following the close of prayer ceremonies.

According to MPR News, two additional tipis had blown down during windstorms late the previous week. The camp was established Feb. 9 across from the Whipple Federal Building in protest of recent federal immigration operations in Minnesota. Youth leaders agreed to close the camp after a March 8 discussion with Lakota elder Arvol Looking Horse. The site is co-managed by the National Park Service and four Dakota tribal nations and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.